Solar and vertical sighting attachment for transits.



No. 745,110. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

J. s. J. LALLIE. SOLAR AND VERTICAL SIGHTING ATTACHMENT FOR TRANSITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 No. 745,110. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

J. s. J. LALLIB.

. SOLAR AND VERTICAL SIGHTING ATTAGHMENTPOR TRANSITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 14, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

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No. 745,1 1o.

"Unurnn Snares Patented November 24, 1903.

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JOHN S. J. LALLIE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SOLAR AND VERTlCAL-SIGHTING ATTACl-iltlEi l'l' FOR TRAN SITS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745 1 10, dated November 24, 1903 Application filed March 14,1903- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. J. LALLIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Solar and Vertical Sighting Attachments for Transits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in solar and vertical sighting attachments for transits and similar instruments; and its object is to provide a simple device of this character which may be readily attached to or detached from any transit or like instrument now in use and which will facilitate the operation of finding the true meridian.

A further object is to employ an attachment by means of which vertical sighting through the telescope of a transit or similar instrument will be facilitated and which will replace the top or side telescopes ordinarily used.

Another object is to so construct the attachment as to obviate the necessity of removing the same from the instrument to which it is secured when it is desired to sight horizontally with said instrument.

The invention consists in providin'g'an adjustable prism by means of which the direction of a ray of light reflected thereby may be changed according to the position occupied by the prism in' relation to the reflected object and the line of collimation of the instrument.

The invention also consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the attachment. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through the device. Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4 4, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 5 5, Fig. 2,

looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is an end view of the attachment. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the reflector-holder. Fig.

8 is a detail view of the bracket, &c., for the lever -adjusting tangentscrew holder or Serial No. 147.833- No modelf) bracket. Fig. 9 is an underneath View of the adjusting-screw employed in the adjustment of the reflector. Fig. 10 is a detail view of the detachable color screen or protector.

l designates a cap made to fit over the ob jective end of the telescope. This cap is provided with a circular opening 2 and a cylindrical extension 3 around said opening.

A hollow cylinder 4 is rotatably mounted inside the cylindrical extension 3 of the cap and is held in place by afiange 5, integral with the cylinder 4, and resting against the outer edge of the cylindrical extension of the cap is a ring 6, located inside the cap and secured to the cylinder 4 by means of screws 7.

'The wall of the cylinder 4 between the ldange 5 and its outer end is considerably enlarged in order to admit the screws 7. Located around the outer periphery of the cylindrical extension of the cap and fitting in between the outer surface of the head of the cap and the flange 5 of the cylinder is a rotatable ring 8, provided with the clamping-screw 9, the inner end of which bears against a wearing-plate 10, let into a recess in the inner face of the ring and resting against the cylindrical extension 3. This ring is adapted to be rotated in either direction about the cylindrical extension 3 and to be rigidly secured thereto by means of the clamp-screwi) and wearing-plate 10 and is provided with an operative engagement with the cylinder 4, whereby said cylinder will be rotated with the ring in a direction corresponding to the with relation to the telescopemay be approximated. A block 11, fastened to the ring 8 by means of screws 12, provides a more substantial bearing for the clamping-screw 9. When therequired position of the cylinder-is reached, the ring 8 is clamped to the cap Land is then in position to act in combination with means hereinafter described to provide fora more accurate and delicate adjustment of the cylinder. The means for perfecting the adjustment consists in providing the block 11 with a lug or projection 18, which extends laterally over the flange 5 of the cylinder.

Secured to flange 5 of the cylinder 4 is a plate 14, having two parallel arms 15 and 16 extending outward beyond the periphery of lever 25 to the trunnion.

the flange and between which the lug 13, carried by the ring, projects. The arm 15 is provided with a tangent-screw 17, which is threaded into the outer extremity of said arm and bears against one side of the lug 13. The outer arm 16 is provided with a cylindrical spring-casing 18, which contains the follower or plunger 19, the protruding end of which engages the side of lug 13 opposite to the side engaged by the tangent-screw 17. A spiral spring located inside the casing and around follower presses the follower into constant engagement with the lug 13. 'When the cylinder has been moved to an approximately correct position and the ring 8 has been clamped to the cylindrical extension 3 by means of the clamp-screw 9, a finer adjustment may then be obtained by turning the tangent-screw 17 to the right, which, pressing against the lug 13, which is held rigid by means of the ring 8and clamp-screw 9, will cause the cylinder to slowly revolve in a-direction opposite to that in which the screw is projected. During the adjustment by means of the tangent-screw 17 the follower 19 will be forced into the spring-casing 18 and the spring be compressed therein. When it is desired or required to revolve the cylinder in the opposite direction, the tangent-screw will be turned to the left, whereby its end portion will be retracted from engagement with the lug 13, and the spring exerting its power against the follower will force the same against the lug 13, which action will move the cylinder at in a direction opposite to that in which the follower moves.

The extremity of the cylinder 4 remote from its journaled end is provided with the revolving reflector 20, while an opening 21 in the cylinder opposite the reflector provides for the passage of the light into the reflector.

Reflector 20 is mounted on a plate 22, having trunnions '23 and 24, which are journaled in oppositely-located openings in the cylinder 4. The reflector is so mounted on plate 22 that its outer or mirror surface lies in the same plane or below the plane of the center line of .the trunnions, so that when the reflector is placed in a plane parallel to the plane of the line of sight of the telescope the operator may sight through the telescope at an object without having to remove the solar attachment.

One of the trunnions, 23, is extended beyond the outer periphery of the cylinder 4 and passes through the enlarged extremity of a lever 25,after which it is reduced in size and provided with a milled head 26, by which the reflector may be turned to any desired angle. A clamp-screw 27, which is threaded into the enlarged portion of lever 25', surrounding trunnion 23, maybe employed to clamp the The arm 28 of lever 25 extends along the tubularcasing 4 parallel to its linear axis and has a tendency to move downward imparted by a leaf-spring 29, which is fastened at one end to the enlarged portion of the lever, while its other extremity engages a lug 30, which forms part of the tubular casing 4E.

The downward movement of the arm 28 of the lever 25 is arrested by a tangent-screw 31, which being threaded into a bracket 32, fastened by suitable means to the cylinder 4, engages the extreme end of the arm 28. This arrangement enables the operator to impart a more delicate movement to the reflector than can be given by turning the milled head of trunnion 23. When the reflector has been turned to a point as near the required position as can be accomplished by turning the milled head of trunnion 23, the lever is clamped to the trunnion by clamping-screw 27, and the reflector may now be brought to its exact position by moving the tangentscrew 31 up or down ward, as may be required.

To enable the operator to accurately measure the adjustment of the angle of the reflector by minutes or a fraction of a minute, a tangent-screw 31 is provided with an enlarged cylindrical part 33, graduated on the outer periphery, the graduations being numbered on the under side, as shown at 34 in Fig. 9. A plate 35, fastened to an extension of bracket 32, rests with one of its edges against the outer periphery of the graduated head 33. Whenthe screw 31 and with it its head 33 is turned, the edge of the stationary plate 35 acts as an indicator to determine the number of minutes or seconds the reflector has been turned.

To still more accurately indicate the angle at the reflector, the plate 35 is graduated on its outer face, and the under edge of the head 33 of the screw 31 will in this case indicate the amount the reflector has been revolved when the screw 31 is moved either up or down.

To determine the true meridian with an instrument provided with my attachment, the cap of my solar attachment is placed about the objective end of the telescope so that the axis of the reflector is at right angles to the line of collimation of the instrument. After the instrument has been leveled the vernier on the horizontal limb is set at an angle of ninety degrees plus or minus the suns declination. The reflector 20 is now turned into a plane parallel to the vertical plane of the telescope, so as not to obstruct the line of view, and the telescope in a horizontal position is sighted at a certain object or.target.' The instrument is now turned about its vertical axis until the vernier is at zero, and the reflector 20 is turned about its axis until a second object or target has been brought into view, the distance between said second object and the first object being equal to the distance between the center of the instrument and the center of the reflector. In case the object is at such a distance as to eliminate parallax, the first object may be sighted at direct. When the second target has been sighted, the reflector is clamped by means of the clamp-screw 27 and adjusted untilthe center of the target coincides with the center of reticule of the telescope by turning the tangentscrew 31. The objective end of the telescope is now dipped, and the latitude of the place of observation is set ofi on the vertical or latitude arc. The telescope is approximately pointed south, and my solar attachment is turned about its journal until the image of the sun is brought into the field of view. I now clamp the solar attachment by means of clamp-screw 9 and turn tangent-screw17 until the center of the suns image coincides with the center of the reticule. The telescope now points due south, and after returning the same to its horizontal position the reflector is revolved until it lies in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane of the telescope, thus taking it out of the line of view. In this way the meridian may be fixed on any suitable object without removing my solar attachment, thus preventing disturbance of the instrument.

When making underground surveys, my attachment will be found to be most useful and accurate for obtaining horizontal angles when working in steep inclines. In this case the attachment takes the place of the side telescope now in use, and the operation is as follows: After the instrument has been leveled in the usual manner the telescope is placed in a horizontal position, and with the instrument at zero I sight through the reflector of my attachment at the back sight. The instrument is now turned about its vertical axis, and by revolving the attachment about its journal I once more sight at the back sight. By again returning the attachment on its journal I sight at the fore sight, after which I once more turn the instrument about its vertical axis and the attachment about its horizontal axis and again sight at the fore sight.

The Vernier on the horizontal limb of the instrument is read at each observation. The first and third readings are the direct and the second and fourth the reverse readings, and the difierence between the mean of the direct and reverse readings on the back sight and the mean of the direct and reverse readings on the fore sight gives the true angle between the back and fore sight. In this as well as other similar operations the usual instrumental errors are by the use of my attachment reduced to a minimum, as the accuracy of the operation is dependent solely on keeping the telescope in a horizontal position, which may be readily done by adjusting the sensitive level under the telescope.

When required to take an observation on Polaris, the objective end of the telescope is depressed and the reflector is turned around until the image of the star appears in plain View. The observer, looking down through the telescope, which is the most comfortable position, awaits the extreme elongation of the star. When the star has reached the extreme eastern or western elongation, the telescope is elevated and the reflector is loosened and turned parallel with the line of sight, which enables the observer to establish the line of sight without removing the attachment, as explained above in determining the meridian.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be mounted on the objective end of the instrument, a tubular reflector-holder, one extremity of which is journaled inside a cylindrical extension of said cap, a flange integral with the reflector-holder to arrest the inwardmovement of the holder, a ring fastened to the end of the reflector-holder to arrest its outward movement, a ring placed aroundthe cylindrical extension of the cap, and a clamp screw threaded through said ring and adapted to engage the outer periphery of the cylindrical extension of the cap, substantially as described.

2. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap mounted on the objective extremity of the instrument, a cylindrical reflector-holder journaled inside a cylindrical extension of said cap, a ring with a clamp-screw around said extension, and a tangent-screw and spring actuated follower mounted on the reflectorholder and engaging opposite sides of a projection on said ring, substantially as described.

3. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap mounted on the objective, a cylindrical reflector-holder revolubly mounted on said cap, a reflector mounted inside said holder and capable of being revolved upon an axis transverse to the optical axis of the instrument, a tangent-screw suitably mounted on the holder for regulating the position of the reflector, said screw having a graduated head for measuring the angle of rotation of the reflector, substantially as described.

4:. In a solar and verticalsighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap mounted on the objective extremity of the instrument, a tubular reflector-holder revolubly mounted on said cap and provided with an opening in its lateral surface, and a reflector mounted inside said holder on an axis transverse to the optical axis of the telescope and opposite said opening so that the rays of light coming through the opening may strike the reflector, substantially as described.

5. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap mounted on the objective extremity of the telescope, a tubular reflectorholder revolubly mounted on said cap, and a reflector revolubly mounted inside said holder on an axis transverse to the optical axis of the telescope IIO in such a way that when turned in a certain position it may clear the line of sight of the instrument, substantially as described.

6. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the

combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be placed around the objective extremity of the instrument, a tubular reflectorholder journaled in an extension of said cap, a reflector-supporter adapted to be rotated on an axis transverse to the optical axis of the instrument, and a reflector mounted on said supporter so that its upper surface lies in a plane below the center line of said axis, substantially as described.

7.- In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be placed around the objective extremity of the instrument, a tubular reflectorholder journaled on said cap, a reflector mounted inside said holder on a support capable of being revolved on an axis transverse to the optical axis of the instrument and provided with trunnions extending through diametrically opposite openings in the reflectorholder, a lever mounted loosely around one of said trunnions, a clamp-screw to lock the lever to said trunnion in any desired position, a tangent-screw mounted on the reflector-holder and engaging the extremity of the lever-arm, a spring applied for the purpose of keeping the end of the lever-arm in constant engagement with said tangent-screw, a graduated head on the tangent-screw, and a stationary graduated indicator for measuring the rotation of the reflector, substantially as described.

8. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similarzinstruments, the combination with the telescope of a cap designed to be mounted upon the objective end of, the telescope, a hollow cylinder revolubly mounted on the cap and carryinga reflector, a ring rotatably arranged on the cap and engaging the cylinder and means to clamp the ring to the cap.

9. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be mounted on the objective end of the telescope, a hollow cylinder revolubly mounted on the cap and carrying a reflector, a ring revolubly arranged upon the cap, said ring being provided with a projection engaging the hollow cylinder and means to clamp the ring to the cap.

10. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be mounted on the objective end of the telescope, a hollow cylinder revolubly mounted on the cap and carrying a reflector, a ring revolubly arranged on the cap, and means whereby the cylinder and ringare revolved together.

11. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the

combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be mounted on the objective end of the telescope, a hollow cylinder revolubly mounted on the cap and carrying a reflector, a ring revolubly arranged on the cap, means whereby the ring and cylinder are revolved together, and means to move the cylinder with relation to the ring.

12. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be mounted on the objective end of the telescope, a hollow cylinder revolubly mounted on the cap and carryinga reflector, a ring revolubly arranged on the cap, means whereby the ring and cylinder are revolved together, means to hold the ring fixed, and means to move the cylinder with relation to the ring.

13. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be mounted on the objective end of the telescope, a hollow cylinder revolubly mounted on the cap and carryinga reflector, said cylinder being provided with arms, a ring revolubly arranged on the cap and provided with projections extending between the arms on the cylinder.

14. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the combination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be placed around the objective end of the telescope, a tubular reflector-holder revolubly mounted on the cap, a reflector mounted in the holder on a support capable of being revolved on an axis transverse to the optical axis of the instrument, and provided with trunnions extendingthrough diametrically opposite openings in the reflector-holder, a lever mounted loosely on one of said trunnions, means to lock the lever to the trunnion, and means to operate the lever to adjust the angle of the reflector.

15. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, thecombination with the telescope, of a cap designed to be placed around the objective end of the telescope, a tubular reflector-holder revolubly mounted on the cap, a reflector pivoted transversely of the holder, means to adjust the angle of the reflector and means whereby the reflector may be operated independently of said adjusting means.

16. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar'instruments, the combination with the telescope, 'of a cap designed to be placed around the objective end of the telescope, a tubular reflector-holder revolubly mounted on the cap, a reflector pivoted transversely of the holder, means to adjust the angle of the reflector, and means to throw the said adjusting meansinto or out of operative relation to the reflector.

17. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit or similar instruments, the

combination with the telescope, of an attaching device designed to be attached to the objective end of the telescope, a hollow cylindrical reflector-holder revolubly mounted on the attaching device, a clamping member adapted to be rotated about the attaching device, means connecting the reflector-holder and clamping member whereby they are moved together, means for locking or moving the reflector-holder with relation to said member.

18. In a solar and vertical sighting attachment for transit and similar instruments, the

combination with the telescope, of a tubular reflector-holder, and a reflector journaled in the holder on an axis transverse to the optical axis of the instrument, the reflecting-surface of the reflector being in a plane to one side the line of sight of the instrument.

In testimony whereof I affiz; my signature 20 in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. J. LALLIE.

Witnesses:

FRANK W. GovE, LYNDON A. HASTINGS. 

